More than 100 children at the Lowry Elementary School in Tampa, Florida, had to receive medical attention after a history of vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms of a possibly norovirus infection, a local media reported.
Of the 100 children, two of them were positive for norovirus, a leading cause of gastroenteritis and highly contagious, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
The first cases of this disease were registered last May 4, when 12 students of the said school complained of stomach upset.
In recent days, several parents of students called the school board to report that their children were sick with vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, or stomach pain.
“We have thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the school premises throughout the week,” said Tanya Arja, Hillsborough County School District spokeswoman.
This week, the county health department confirmed to school officials that it had diagnosed several of the cases due to norovirus, and asked that the sick children stay at home for at least 48 hours, or until the symptoms disappear.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), norovirus infections cause inflammation of the stomach or intestines and those affected show symptoms between 12 and 48 hours after infection.
